Signal-display.



P. J. CHASE.

SIGNAL DISPLAY.

APPLIOATION FILED ooT.'1o, 1911.

P. J. CHASE.

SIGNAL DISPLAY.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. l0, 1911. Y 1,058,21 9. Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

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MLM film flllllllI PHILIP J'. CHASE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFOQNIA.

SIGNAL-DISPLAY.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pagillted Apr. 8, 1913.

Application led October 10, 1911. lSeriaI'No. 653,949. j

To aZZ/wwm t 'mag/concern:

Be it known that I, PHI'LrP J. CHASE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and -State of California, have invented a new' and useful Signal-Display,A of which the following isa specicatlon.

My invention relates to a Idisplay devlce to be placed at the intersection of streets or roads with railwayvor electric lines for the purpose of giving warning of the approach of trains to the 'crossingtanlone of the main objects of the present mventlon is to produce a signal device which shows positively both a danger signal and a clear track signal as the condition maybe. Another object of the present invention 1s to produce a signal device `of' the character'v described in which 'the supporting means serves as a concealing means for a portion of the signal.

Another object ofthe present invention is to produce a signal device of the character described vwhich is so constructed that the display is clearly distinguishable both durv ing the day, and at night.

Another object of the present invention 1s to produce a signal device of the character described of simple and economical form which may be operatedl with` a `minimum amount of power.

hereinafter from the following specification. Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes onlyz- Figure 1 is van elevation of the signal display, showing the manner of' supporting the same, the device being in position to show a danger signal. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the device in position to, show a clear track signal. Fig.'3 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a frag-` mentary view showing the manner of connecting the signal arms. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the support` ing device, showing the manner of mounting the signal' arms therein. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic 'view showing the electrical connections for operating the device.`

The` signal device is adapted to be mounted at streets and railway crossings and is adapted to be operated by electrical Contact,

or other suitable mechanism,placed on the railway at either side of the'intersection,

which device is operated by vthe trains passing thereover, one form of operating or controlling means being shown in the drawings. `The device consists of a`suitable post or standard 1 having extending upwardly from the front and rear thereof a member which in the form shown consists of a, plank of wood. Each member 2, 2 is irmly securedto the post 1 by means of suitable bolts 3, and the upper ends of the members 2, 2

are spaced' apart *by a suitable block 4 fas-.165

tened therebetween inany suitable manner. The members 2, 2, arranged as above described, form a casing open at eachside for the purpose of receiving the signal display.4

The signal display consists of two. pairs of 70 arms 5, 5, and 6, 6, the inner ends of which are firmly secured together to form a cross between -metal plates' 7 \by rivets 8. The plates 7 are formed 4with a central opening therethrough to receive a stud or shaft 9 75.k

locked to the plate 7 .by vmeans of a key. 10.

The shaft`9 extends through the membersv2, 2 and is secured therein at one end vby a washer 11 and collar 12 fastened tothe shaft 9 by means of a pin 13 which extends 80A through the collar and'shaft. The other end of the shaftis provided with-a collar 14 secured to the shaft by means of a pin 15. i

The collar 14 is,provided with a .pair ofl lugs 16 and 17, the lug 17 being pivoted at 8.5., c j 18 to a link 19 having its lower end piv- Other objects and advantages will appear 24.' Suitable stops 25 and 26 are secured to the member 2 in position to'be'engaged by c the lugs 16 and 17 ofthe collar 141,v which b eing secured to the shaft 9 limit the rotarl i t1ve movement of such yshaft and the parts carried thereby lto one quarter of a revolution. The display f arms 5, 5 and 6, 6 may be marked in any desired manner with a proper warning, which inthe form shown consists of the words` Dangei' Stop words Clear Track marked on. the

arms 6, 6. The arms. A5, 5 in the position shown in Fig. 1 extend horizontally from .each side of the supporting means in visible position, and the arms 6,6 are hidden be,- m5

hind the members 2, 2 of the supportingl means.

It is desirable that the signal display.' should show the danger signal unless positively operated to show a, Clear tracka 11@ 4 fpainted or marked on the arms 5, 5 and the 100 Aand for this purpose the end 30 ot arm 5 is Theweighted arms and 6 being on the 'provided with a weight 31,'and' the end 32 of thea-rm 6 is provided with a weight 33.

same side of the standard during their rotating movement rotate the arms in the direction of thde'dotted arrow Fig. `2 until the arms 5, 5 are in horizpntal position, as shown in Fig. 1. This construction provides that it any portion of the signal controlling means between the tracks and the i .solenoid 24 becomes out of order that the arms will assume the position shown in Fig. 1, displayinga i danger signal.

For the purpose of illuminating the signal display at night,`four boxes 40 are provided, two of which areisecured to the upright 2 in any suitable manner, one at each side thercoiand two boxes secured to the upright 2 in any suitable manner, one at each side thereof. Each, box is provided with two openings 41 and 42 in the front thereof,

the opening 41 being covered with a plate,

43 ot red glass, and the opening 42 being covered with a plate 44 ot v'white glass. Be-

hind the red glass in each box is arranged a set ot electric' lamps 45, and behind the white glass in each box is a set oit electric lamps 46. The underside of each box 40 is lopen, .as indicated at 47, so that the light from the lamps in each box 40 will shine directly on the arm of the display device which is'in horizontal position therebeneath an`d illuminate the arms soithat the reading matter thereon may :be Vreadily seen.

Mounted on the top of the uprights 2, 2 is `a green lamp 48, and directly thereunder on the upright 2 is a bell 49operated in the mannerhereinafter described. Y

The controlling mechanism for the signal display above described, is shown in connection with an electric railway, the trolley wire of which is indicated at 50, (see Fig. 6), and the track at 51. The street crossing is' indicated at 52 and the display at 53. A, contact '56 is placed on the trolley wire 50 at one side ofthe crossing 52, and a Vsimilar-contact 57 is-placed on the opposite side ofthe street crossing. The contact 56 is connected by wire 58 to winding 59 of a relay 60, which winding is grounded at 61. The contact 57 is connected by wire 62 tb the winding 63 of therelay 60, which winding is grounded at'61. The solenoid 24 is provided with a winding 64 having one end thereof connected by.. wire 65 to.a sprin contact 66 ofva' switch 67, and the other end of the winding64 is connected by wire 68 to the other spring contact 690i the switch 67, the normal position lof the contacts 66 and 69 beingl toglether, thereby, closing the circuit through t e winding 64 ofthe solenoid 24 which receives an electric current frorna battery source 70 in the wire 68.

l The electric' lamps 46 behind the white` glass in the boxes40 are connected by wire 71 to l the core 21 ofthe solenoid and by wire 72 through battery 73 tor acontact 74. The electric lamps 45 behind the red glass in the boxes 40, green lamp 48, and the bell 49, are'connected in circuit byneans of a wire 75 to contact 76 andby means of wire 77 through battery 78 to the core 21 of the solenoid. 4

The device operates as follows The car indicated by dotted lines (see Fig. 6) moving in the direction of the arrow and approaching the crossing 52 has made contact by means of the trolley 80-with contact 56, closing an electric circuit through wire 58, winding 59 ot the relay to ground '61. This Lcircuit causes the relay to assume the position shown in Fig. 6, a wedge 81 of insulating material secured to one' end of the core 82 being forced between the contacts 66 and 69 of the switch 67, thereby breaking the circuit-through wires 65, 68, battery 70 and vwinding 64 of the solenoid; The upper end of the solenoid being connected to the rotatable arms of the signal display, as here tofore described, is caused to move upward due to the movementv of the weighted arms which assume the position shown'in Fig. 1,` displaying the signal display Danger "Stop. The' upward movement of the solenoidl closes the circuit through the lamps 45, 48, Vand bell 49 by wires 7.5, 77, battery 78, contact 76 and-the core of the solenoid,

thereby illuminating the lamps 45.behind of switch ,67 which come together and closev a circuitthrough lwire 65, winding 64 of solenoid 24, wire 68 and battery 70 which energizes the` solenoidcausing the core 21 to be drawn Adownward into engagement with contact 74; 1 4

The movement of the.Y solenoid just described closes a circuit through contact 74,

battery 73, -wire 72, lamps 46 behindl the Vwhite glass in the boxes 40, wire 71 and core 21 of the solenoid, thereby displaying `a white light. `The downward -movement of the core 21 of gthepsolenoid pulls link 19 downwardly thereby rotating shaft 9 and the display arms carried thereon into the signal Clear Track, in which position the arts of the'device remain until another car operatesthe contact 56, as above described. The rclay60 and battery above" position shown in 2, displaying the described may be inclosed in a suitable box 90 mounted on the standard 1 in any suitable manner.

What I claim is 1. A signal display comprising a standard, a pair of cross arms rotatably mounted ard, a pair of cross arms rotatably mounted on said standard, said pair of cross 'arms consisting of four arms extending outwardly from'a common center, means for concealing one of said cross arms, weight means for causing said cross arms to rotate in one direction, positive means for causing said arms to rotate in the opposite direction, and means for limiting the rotative movement of said cross arms.

4. A signal display comprising a standard, members secured to each side of said standard extending upwardly therefrom, a shaft rotatably mounted in said members, a pair of cross arms mounted on said shaft between said members, said pair of cross arms consisting of four arms extending outwardly from a common center, weight means on said arms for rotating said arms in one direction, and means connected to said shaft for positively rotating said arms in the opposite direction.

5. A signal dis la com risin a stand ard, a member sediirgd to elach sigde of said standard extending upwardly therefrom, a 'shaft rotatably mounted in said members, a pair vof, cross arms secured to said shaft between said members, a collar `secured to said shaft, a pair of lugs on said collar, means on one of said extensions coacting, with one of said lugs to limit the movement of said lug, means connected to the other lug to positively operate said shaft in one direction, and weight means on said cross arms to rotate said shaft inl'the opposite direction.

6. A signal display comprising a standard, a air of cross arms rotatably mounted on said) standard, means for rotating said cross arms, andlighting means for illuminating said cross arms, said lighting means consisting of a pair of boxesl mounted on each side of said standard having an opening in the bottom of each box thereon, and lamps in each of said boxes.

7. A signal display comprising a standard, a air of cross arms rotatably mounted on said) standard,a pair of boxes mounted on each side of said standard, each box having a pair of openings in the face thereof, a set of lamps behind each opening, and means for simultaneously operating said cross arms in one direction and lighting one set of lamps in each box, and means for simultaneously operating said cross arms in the opposite direction and light-ing the other set of lamps.

In testimony whereof, I havehereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 3rd day of October, 1911.

PHILIP J. CHASE. 

